Nuclear capable missile 'Prithvi II' successfully test-fired

India has successfully test-fired nuclear capable Surface-to-Surface missile Prithvi II from Chandipur, Odisha. The missile, with a strike range of 350 km, is capable of carrying warheads upto 1,000 kg.  

Key Points:

• Prithvi, the first missile to be developed under the IGMDP Program, was inducted into India's Strategic Force Command (SFC) in 2003.
• The test was carried out as part of a user trial by the Army. 
• The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock.

Objectives:

• Such test launches are conducted to ascertain operational readiness and to check the reliability of this deterrent weaponry to meet any eventuality.

IGMDP Program:

• The Government had launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 to achieve self sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of Ballistic Missiles.
• Missiles like Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag have been developed under this very program.
• The naval operational variant of Prithvi II class missiles are known as Dhanush.